VRE looking to add earlier train

Early birds in the Fredericksburg area may finally get their wish for a Virginia Railway Express train that leaves before 5:15 a.m.

Railroad track improvements funded with state and federal money have opened up slots for new VRE trains to operate beginning in late 2009 or early 2010.

Friday, VRE chief executive officer Dale Zehner recommended using one of the slots on the Fredericksburg Line for a 5:05 a.m. express train.

Train 298 could leave Fredericksburg at 5:05 a.m. and stop only at Leeland Road and Brooke before becoming an express to Alexandria, Crystal City, L'Enfant Plaza and Union Station.

Funding the train would require a one-time $200,000 payment to staff the train, and $628,000 in annual operating costs.

Other than Train 298, VRE does not have money to start other VRE trains, despite having slots to run new trains in late 2009.

Instead, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation wants to fund two new Amtrak trains.

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009 ... 009/447584

Damn going to skip Quantico, rippon, woodbridge and lorton??????????? What those people don't want earlier service? If get a early train what about a later train which is what they really need like at 8:00 or 8:30. Gee i could even hold a engineer job on VRE on the frederickburg side.

They need an Express train at 5am in the morning? Wouldn't adding midday or late evening trains make more sense?